Method and apparatus for reduction of water re-evaporation in a dedicated dehumidifier/water heater

Abstract

An apparatus that includes a refrigeration circuit that includes an evaporator, a first condenser and a compressor. The apparatus includes a refrigerant-water heat exchanger that includes a second condenser fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit. A control valve is operatively connected to the refrigeration circuit to direct flow of refrigerant through at least one of the first condenser during a dehumidification mode and the second condenser during a water heating mode. A damper is disposed on an upwind side of the evaporator, the damper being operable to reduce airflow across the evaporator during a ventilation mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a refrigeration circuit comprising an evaporator, a first condenser and a compressor; 
 a refrigerant-water heat exchanger comprising a second condenser fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit; 
 a control valve operatively connected to the refrigeration circuit to direct flow of refrigerant through at least one of the first condenser during a dehumidification mode and the second condenser during a water heating mode; 
 a chamber downwind of a fan, wherein the chamber is operable to form a flow path to allow airflow across the evaporator and the first condenser, wherein the evaporator and first condenser are in an aligned arrangement; 
 a bypass duct, wherein the bypass duct is operable to form a bypass flow path to allow airflow to bypass the aligned arrangement of the evaporator and the first condenser; 
 a duct coupled to the chamber and the bypass duct operable to allow airflow from the chamber to the bypass duct; and 
 a damper spaced apart from the evaporator and the first condenser and disposed in the chamber on an upwind side of the evaporator and downwind of the fan, the damper having a closed position and an open position, wherein the closed position allows for the airflow to be directed from the chamber through the evaporator and the first condenser, and the open position allows for the airflow to be directed through the duct and into the bypass duct. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the damper prevents air from flowing across a portion of the evaporator. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the damper, in the open position, directs air to the bypass flow path around the evaporator and the first condenser. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the damper reduces re-evaporation of water into air moving through the evaporator. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the damper is a louvered damper. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the damper, in the closed position, directs air through the evaporator and the first condenser. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the damper reduces airflow across the evaporator from a first range of approximately 200 CFM to approximately 250 CFM to a second range of approximately 40 CFM to approximately 50 CFM. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the damper allows air to pass through an upper portion of the evaporator, while preventing air from flowing through a lower portion of the evaporator. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a refrigerant reservoir operatively connected to the refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the refrigerant reservoir is operatively connected at a location of the refrigeration circuit based on a volume of the first condenser compared to the volume of the second condenser. 
     
     
       11. A method of reducing re-evaporation of water during in a water heating and air processing (WHAP) system, the method comprising:
 providing a refrigeration circuit comprising an evaporator, a first condenser and a compressor; 
 fluidly coupling a refrigerant-water heat exchanger comprising a second condenser to the refrigeration circuit; 
 directing, utilizing a control valve, flow of refrigerant through the first condenser during a dehumidification mode or through the second condenser during a water heating mode; 
 positioning a chamber downwind of a fan; 
 coupling a bypass duct to the chamber via a duct operable to allow airflow from the chamber to the bypass duct; and 
 positioning a damper spaced apart from the evaporator and the first condenser and in the chamber to form a flow path operable to allow airflow across the evaporator and the first condenser in an aligned arrangement from the chamber and a bypass flow path operable to allow airflow to bypass the aligned arrangement of the evaporator and the first condenser via the bypass duct, and upwind of the evaporator and downwind of the fan to reduce airflow across the evaporator when the WHAP system is operating in ventilation mode, wherein the damper has a closed position and an open position, and wherein the closed position allows for the airflow to be directed from the chamber through the evaporator and the first condenser, and the open position allows for the airflow to be directed through the duct and into the bypass duct. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , comprising preventing, utilizing the damper, air from flowing over a portion of the evaporator. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , comprising directing, utilizing the closed position of the damper, air to the bypass flow path around the evaporator and the first condenser. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , comprising reducing, utilizing the damper, re-evaporation of water into air moving through the evaporator. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , comprising reducing, utilizing the damper, airflow across the evaporator from a first range of approximately 200 CFM to approximately 250 CFM to a second range of approximately 40 CFM to approximately 50 CFM. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , comprising allowing, utilizing the damper, air to pass through an upper portion of the evaporator, while preventing air from flowing through a lower portion of the evaporator. 
     
     
       17. A water heating and air processing (WHAP) system for heating potable water for an enclosure and processing air for the enclosure, the WHAP system comprising:
 a multi-mode dehumidifier and water heater comprising:
 a refrigeration circuit comprising an evaporator, a first condenser and a compressor; 
 a refrigerant-water heat exchanger comprising a second condenser fluidly coupled to the refrigeration circuit; 
 a control valve operatively connected to the refrigeration circuit to direct flow of refrigerant through at least one of the first condenser during a dehumidification mode and the second condenser during a water heating mode; 
 a chamber downwind of a fan, wherein the chamber is operable to form a flow path to allow airflow across the evaporator and the first condenser, wherein the evaporator and first condenser are in an aligned arrangement; 
 a bypass duct, wherein the bypass duct is operable to form a bypass flow path to allow airflow to bypass the aligned arrangement of the evaporator and the first condenser; 
 a duct coupled to the chamber and the bypass duct operable to allow airflow from the chamber to the bypass duct; and 
 a damper spaced apart from the evaporator and the first condenser and disposed in the chamber on an upwind side of the evaporator and downwind of the fan, the damper having a closed position and an open position, wherein the closed position allows for the airflow to be directed from the chamber through the evaporator and the first condenser, and the open position allows for the airflow to be directed through the duct and into the bypass duct. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the damper prevents air from flowing across a portion of the evaporator. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the damper, in the open position, directs air to the bypass flow path around the evaporator and the first condenser. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the damper reduces re-evaporation of water into air moving through the evaporator.